Higgins introduces Veterans Education Flexibility Act

Press release

Congressman
Brian Higgins was joined by veterans at Daemen College in Amherst to announce
the introduction of H.R. 2169, the Veterans Education Flexibility Act.

"GI
Bill benefits should not come with an expiration date," Higgins said. "We
should instead provide our veterans greater flexibility in accessing their
earned educational benefits. Caring for our veterans should be far more than
simply thanking them for their service. The obligation runs deeper than that.
We must do what we can to provide our veterans with the skills and training
they need to fill both the jobs of today and tomorrow."

Under
the Montgomery and Post-Vietnam GI bills, veterans have up to 10 years to use
their education benefits. Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, they have 15 years. The
congressman's bill would remove these expiration dates and retroactively provide
veterans with access to education benefits that have already expired.

Higgins
said many veterans postpone further education to join the workforce and support
their families, or are faced with lengthy rehabilitations from service-related
injuries.

The
legislation would allow service members and veterans to who were eligible for
the Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP), Montgomery GI
Bill - Active Duty (MGIB-AD), or Post-9/11 GI Bill to get the education and job
training they have earned, at a pace that makes sense for a 21st Century
workforce, Higgins' camp said.

"We
applaud Rep. Higgins in working to bring veterans lifelong benefits through the
G.I. Bill," said Daemen President Gary A. Olson. "This legislation will help to
ensure that our veterans receive the critical educational benefits they need
and deserve as they transition out of the military into their communities."

Daemen
College participates in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon
Program and was recognized for three straight years as a "Top Military Friendly
College" by Military Advanced Education magazine.

June
22 marked the 69th anniversary of the day President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
signed the Serviceman's Readjustment Act, commonly known as the GI Bill. June
30 served as the five-year anniversary of the Post 9/11 GI Bill, which Higgins
supported.